Nicole Burkhalter named Indiana Academic Coach of the Year

With an admitted love of trivia, most Monday nights you can find Greencastle High School teacher Nicole (Kempf) Burkhalter joining her academic teammates in dominating trivia competition at Buffalo Wild Wings.

But there's nothing trivial about the heights to which such competition has taken Burkhalter and her Indiana Academic Super Bowl teams.

The two GHS teams she coaches are both currently on four-year reigns as state champions with both English and Interdisciplinary squads capturing state titles every year since 2013.

But the icing on the cake came Tuesday when the Indiana Association of School Principals named Burkhalter Academic Coach of the Year for 2016.

Was she surprised?

"I was," she admitted Wednesday afternoon. "They nominated me last year but I didn't make the final four."

But this time the nomination submitted by GHS Principal Russ Hesler, Assistant Principal Jennifer Finnerty and teacher and fellow Super Bowl coach Robin Johnson paid off.

Their submission lavished praise on the dedicated 21-year GHS faculty member.

"Nicole has a reputation at Greencastle High School -- reputation for having high expectations," it begins.

"Nicole believes that her students have the ability to achieve at a very high level, both in the classroom and at the competition table," the nomination letter adds.

She was also lauded for going the extra mile for students.

"Nicole is doing far more than just giving up her time," the nomination letter states. "She is changing lives."

It notes that she teaches her students strategies to be successful in college and perform well, not just in academic competitions, but on the AP, PSAT and SAT tests.

"Beyond tests, Nicole inspires her students to become curious, life-long learners," the nomination adds.

It ends with high praise from one of her students.

"Through the English team," the student notes, "Mrs. Burkhalter has taught us that the pursuit of knowledge is fun. She makes sure we all work harder than our competition, and she works harder than any of us."

Acknowledgment of that testimony brings a smile to her face.

"That's probably my favorite part of it," Burkhalter said of the state recognition.

That and sharing the experience with husband Todd, to whom she's been married a little more than a year. They celebrated by enjoying a sunny fall afternoon walking around downtown Indianapolis following the Academic Coaches Conference Awards Ceremony at the Indiana Convention Center.

So after 15 years as the GHS Spell Bowl coach and 20 years as a Super Bowl coach, is she ready to give it all up?

"I've still got a Spell Bowl title to win," she's quick to reply. "We've been so close twice, with two seconds."

That team is already working toward Area Competition the first week of November.

Burkhalter also enjoys coaching the English and Interdisciplinary teams, noting that she keeps "learning new things" as she work with her students.

For example, she's already excited for the 2017 Academic Super Bowl competition, knowing that the theme will be the French Revolution, something she's always been interested in learning more about.

Indiana Academic Super Bowl competition is set for the spring with the state finals May 6 at Purdue University as Burkhalter and her students will be going for five straight titles.

And that's certainly no trivial pursuit.